Jaws clenched tightly, Ben made his way angrily toward Fabray Manor. At first light, he had received news that a tip he held as gospel had been really a trap. Now his dear friend, Abe, might soon face the consequence for Ben's mistake.

Making his way up the front porch steps, he could hear his men groaning behind him. He had drilled them hard this morning, too hard considering the weather, and now he sought to rest up before contemplating his next move to fish out spies and those loyal to the crown.

Upon entering, Ben's anger elevated to a new degree, finding Amy, Kaylee, and another lady he knew as Mrs. Monroe, sitting gracefully in front of a steaming tea pot.

"Oh, Major Tallmadge, you are just in time for tea. Would you care for a cup?" Amy taunted.

Ben felt his throat constrict on near rage. He glared at the woman, balling his fingers into a fist to keep from lashing out at her.

Amy smiled. She had hit the nerve she meant to nail.

He focused on Kaylee as Amy poured Mrs. Monroe a cup. Kaylee peered back at him. Gone was the softness he retained just for her in his gaze.

"Thank you, Mrs. Fabray," Mrs. Monroe said after Amy filled her cup.

Kaylee quickly turned her cup over and announced, "I shall have none, thank you."

"What?" Amy almost shouted.

"I shall not take tea this day or any day forth," Kaylee replied holding Ben's proud gaze.

Amy turned from Kaylee to Ben's direction, his smug reflection crippling her ploy.

That night Kaylee was confined to her room and not allowed to dine with the other occupants in the household. After Mattie and Amy retired, Ben summoned her from her room and on to the balcony.

He scooped her up and set her on the edge of the terrace, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders.

"My sister warned me to stay away from you."

"Do you want to stay away from me?" He was now the predator and she his easily persuaded prey.

Batting her eyes, she shook her head no.

He captured her jaw and stared longingly into her eyes for a time. She was beautifully intoxicating and even more so than before, since she had made it public her support for the Patriots. "Kiss me, Kaylee," he muttered, his touch sweltering of affection.

Closing her eyes, Kaylee had to lift her face to meet his. She pecked him tenderly and when she went to pull away, he placed his hand on the back of her neck and pressed firmly to halt her retreat. He nipped her bottom lip, and blowing a warm breath against her lips, he whispered in a deep-throaty voice, "open your mouth for me."

She obeyed with ease, moaning softly as he plundered her with slow precision, passionately, tenderly. He twirled her hair as he kissed her long and deep. No longer feeling the frost in the night air, she allowed the blanket to fall as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He slipped his tongue in and out of her mouth, and when he withdrew and did not reenter, she mocked him and thrust her tongue into his. Purring, he captured it and sucked with erotic sips.

Finally breathless, she pulled away.

"Did you like that?" he asked her, cocksure of himself that she did.

"Yes…" was all she had breath to say.

He chuckled at her pristine behavior and playfully kissed her a few more times. She giggled against the assault, which ended in a second serious immersed kiss. He had found her flaw; him. She was too easily influenced and bendable with his touch. With a little more coaxing, she would willing spread her legs for him. Ben still was not sure he wanted to take it that far. He had subdued and fucked women before, leaving them without regret, but Kaylee was not the type of woman a man left behind. To do so would be him leaving his heart behind.

Ben picked the blanketed back up and wrapped its warmth back around her delicate shoulders.

"Today your actions regarding the tea, were they for me or for you?"

"For myself. I am not as ignorant as you might believe."

"I am glad to hear you admit this, Kaylee."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the story about the letters young Matthew ferried."

She jumped down and headed toward her room. "It was not a story."

Ben snatched her arm and pulled her into the cove of his sinewy body. "Tell me how you deciphered the code."

Him being much taller than her, she had to peer up to greet his eyes. "Is this why you took me riding? Kissed me?"

"No. It is not, but if you want something more, I need more from you, Kaylee. I need you to bestow upon me the same trust I have gifted you."

Shame-washed, she glanced down breaking eye contact.

"You knew the code because you had seen it before. Now tell me where," he demanded, gripping her jaw with gentle strength, forcing her to look upon him.

"I cannot..." Kaylee whimpered softly as she pulled free from his embrace and abandoned him to the chill of the night.

She was not as persuadable as Ben had perceived. He had been wrong about that, but one thing he was not wrong about was his notion that there was more going on in Fabray Manor than pacifism.

Notes:

Patriots refused tea, Loyalists did not. It was a public sign of support for one side or the other.